The Five-Year Engagement picks up where most rom-coms leave off — with the proposal. Tom (Jason Segel) pops the question to Violet (Emily Blunt) exactly a year after they meet at a New Year’s Eve party. But it doesn’t go exactly as planned. Tom plans to surprise her with a ring on the deck of the restaurant where he works. But Violet objects so much to making a stop on their way to a party that Tom pulls over the car and confesses the whole plan. And thus begins their long and winding trip to the altar. But is their story engaging enough to make it worth a trip to the theater?

Jason Segal and Emily Blunt are likeable and fun as the engaged couple and at first it seems like everything is going to go off without a hitch. But what fun would that be? Things get derailed at first when Violet gets an offer to work on her doctorate at the University of Michigan. The problem with that is they live in San Francisco and Tom is an up-and-comer in the city’s culinary scene. But Tom decides to put his career on hold and go to Ann Arbor with Violet. She thrives there but he never seems to find his way. Instead, he ends up working at Zingerman’s Deli and hanging out with another bored faculty spouse  (well-played by the talented Chris Parnell) who knits ill-fitting sweaters and teaches Tom to hunt.

As the months tick by, the pressure mounts for them to set a date as grandparents start dying and Violet’s sister (Alison Brie) ends up taking the expressway to married life after she gets knocked up by Tom’s loutish friend (Chris Pratt) at Tom and Violet’s engagement party. But as Tom grows unhappier and Violet grows closer to her faculty adviser, the couple seems like they are headed anywhere but marriage. Tom’s downward spiral makes for some good laughs and Violet’s co-workers at the University are an amusing bunch. But there comes a point when you want to say, “oh just break up already!” The movie could have used some judicious editing to tighten things up a little bit.

So yes it’s worth the trip to the theater if you’re in the mood for a rom-com or if you’re a big Jason Segel and/or Emily Blunt fan. It’s got some good laughs and some honest emotional moments. It’s definitely chick flick territory. But if you’re the impatient type you might find yourself looking at your watch wondering when the hell they’re just going to figure it out.

Of course, any woman who is to be Queen of England is bait for the royal houses of Europe and soon enough Leopold of Belgium is sending his nephews to pay her a visit in hopes of uniting their houses and gaining some political leverage. Happily, young Albert (Rupert Friend) takes a shine to his cousin Victoria and the attraction is mutual. And while the politics of her life swirl around her, they flirt, write and finally get married. And at its core that is what The Young Victoria is all about — a great love. History has many proofs of Victoria’s undying devotion for Albert; the Albert Hall is just one of many monuments she dedicated to him after he died.

The first part of The Young Victoria may seem like a lot of exposition, and if you’ve watched many movies about the monarchy, it might seem a bit clichéd. But once Albert enters the picture, the film picks up. He takes her out of her proscribed life and gives her some joy. They make a happy, lovely couple. Albert is serious, thoughtful, smart and the kind of man Victoria needs. But of course, having been controlled by people her whole life, she doesn’t give him power easily. The film only covers the first part of their lives together. One only wonders what happened next.

Emily Blunt is wonderful as Victoria, displaying small hints of her inner personality while staying in her role as the young princess/queen; she takes the required arm down the stairs, but defiantly hops with both feet at the last step. And Rupert Friend gives Albert a warmth below his seriousness that makes him endearing. I would recommend this to people who enjoy a period piece, or those who would like a peek inside the palaces of British royalty. It is a nice love story, too.

For the historically accurate view click here.

I would say rent this if you are a big Amy Adams fan, or if you are needing to feel like your life is at least better than some other people’s. Just once, I would like to see Amy Adams get mad or bitchy. I don’t think she can. And to me that makes roles like this somewhat beyond her. You want to see something affect that sunny demeanor and nothing does, even when her sister nearly destroys the company. Maybe it isn’t her fault; could be the contrived script or the new director, but I really don’t care who is at fault. The rest of the cast, especially Emily Blunt as the sister, are very good. I put this in the skip it pile.